Curly Coat and Dry Eye Syndrome (CCDE)

Curly Coat and Dry Eye Syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects both the eyes and skin in Cavaliers, causing significant discomfort and often leading to severe health complications.

Eye Issues: Affected dogs are unable to produce tears, leaving their eyes sore, dry, and prone to damage.

Skin Problems: The condition causes flaky, dry skin, particularly around the feet. This can make standing and walking painful, further reducing the dog’s quality of life.

Sadly, most dogs diagnosed with CC/DE experience such debilitating symptoms that euthanasia is often considered the most humane option.

All of our CameronCavs breeding dogs have a CLEAR / HEREDITARY CLEAR test result.

Episodic Falling (EF)

Episodic Falling is a neurological disorder in Cavaliers, triggered by physical activity, excitement, or frustration. The condition causes a sudden and severe increase in muscle tone, preventing the dog from relaxing its muscles.

Symptoms: Affected dogs may become rigid and collapse, or experience freezing episodes that resemble seizures. Episodes can vary in severity, ranging from brief falls to prolonged, seizure-like events lasting several hours.

Age of Onset: Symptoms usually begin before the dog is one year old, with the first signs often appearing between 4–7 months.

Unpredictable Nature: There is no consistent pattern to the attacks, making the condition challenging to manage.

All of our CameronCavs breeding dogs have a CLEAR / HEREDITARY CLEAR test result.

Genetics Behind Both Conditions

Both CC/DE and EF are autosomal-recessive conditions, meaning a dog must inherit two copies of the abnormal gene, one from each parent, to be affected.

A dog with one abnormal gene is a Carrier, showing no symptoms but capable of passing the gene to offspring.

Responsible breeding practices, such as DNA testing, are essential to prevent these devastating conditions.

At CameronCavs, we are committed to eradicating these conditions through comprehensive genetic screening and informed breeding decisions. By ensuring that no two carriers are bred together, we strive to give our Cavaliers the healthiest possible start in life.

See our section on DNA testing for additional information.